Life App for 4/22/17 to 4/28/17

April 21, 2017

A way to live a mission in the wider world:Give to charities that help people you are concerned about but will probably, never see.

Based on John 20:19-31

A way to live a mission in the wider world based on John 20:19-31, a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Second Sunday of Easter, 4/23/17. The eleven have locked the door for fear of Jesus’ enemies. Jesus comes and stands before them. He assures them he comes in peace, and shows them his wounds. Then he says, “As the Father has sent me, I send you.” To help them to do Jesus’ work, he gives them the Holy Spirit. They will be able to forgive sins as he has done. Thomas was not with them. When he hears of Jesus’ appearance, he does not believe it. He wants to put his own hand in the wounds to be convinced. A week later, Jesus appears and Thomas is present. Jesus invites Thomas to touch the wounds. Immediately, Thomas believes. [He does not touch the wounds.] The appearances continue. The writer, John, says that there are other signs that are not in the books. He has chosen these signs to help his readers to believe and to find “life in his name.” [“Sign” in Greek means a mark to tell what something is. John has written about deeds or signs of Jesus that tell who he is.]

A theme: Jesus shares his power, the Holy Spirit, with his followers so that they can do his work.